Stanley a



(No Model.)

S.A.GOHEN.

HOLDER 0R CLASP.

' Patented Apr. 22, 1890.

NTTE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

STANLEY A. COHEN, OF NE\V YORK, N. Y.

HOLDER OR CLASP.

SPECZFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 425,983, dated April22, 1890.

Application filed November 2, 1889. Serial No. 329,074. (N 0 model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, STANLEY A. COHEN, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of New York city, in the county of New York and State ofNew York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Holdersor Clasps, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a means for holding various articles, but moreparticularly playin g-eards, and has for its main object the productionof a contrivance which shall not only securely retain the article orarticles desired to be held, but at the same time shall give to theobserver a false impression as to the manner in which the retention iseffected.

My invention has for a further object to provide a simple, cheap, anduseful clasp or holding device.

To these ends and objects my invention consists in the various featuresof construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fullydescribed, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

111 the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a sectional elevation of acontrivance cmbodying my improvements and containing a pack ofplaying-cards. Fig. 2 is a bottom view of the same. Fig. 3 is a detailview with the parts detached. Fig. 4 is a perspective View of thecontrivance shown at Figs. 1 and 2 and arranged in .a position todeceive the beholder.

In the several views the same part will be found designated by the samenumeral of reference.

The holder is composed, essentially, of a bottom and two uprights orside arms or plates 2 and 3. The bottom is made in two parts 4 and'5,for the purpose of securing lateral adjustment of the side arms, andthus adapting the contrivance to packs of cards or other articles ofdifferent thicknesses. The part 4 of the bottom is provided with twotransverse ways or grooves 6,111 which the side edges of the part 5 ofthe bottom are held and guided. A spiral spring 7 is fastened at one endto the part 4 and at the other end to the part 5, and serves to keep thesaid parts and the upr ghts in operative relation at all times.

At or near the upper end of the upright 2 is a screw-stud 8, and at ornear the upper end of the upright 3 is a similar screw-stud 9.

10 represents one part of a dagger, and 11 the remaining part thereof.The inner end of each part is provided with a threaded socket 12, bywhich the part 10 may be screwed upon the studG and the part 11 upon thestud 9.

\Vhen the holder is designed for the reception or retention ofplaying-cards, I arrange exteriorly of the uprights or cheek-pieces 2and 3 false or imitation playing-cards, which I prefer to make ofcelluloid or other composition of matter or material not easilydostructible. One of such cards 13,1 place face outward, as seen at Fig.4:, and the other ll back outward. Both of theseimitation cards areprovided with a central perforation 15, just large enough to slip overthe studs 8 and 9. After having been hung upon said studs the saidimitation cards are securedfirmly in a vertical position and parallelwith the uprights by screwing upon the studs the two portions 10 and 11of the divided dagger, as illustrated clearly at Fig. 1.

It will be observed that when the holder is provided with the imitationcards, as described and shown, the bottom and sides of the holder arehidden from sight when the contrivance is viewed from either side. Itwill be observed, furthermore, that when a pack of playing-cards 16 isinserted between the uprights, as illustrated, and the contrivance isrested upon a desk or table, as represented at Fig. 4, not only is theentire mechanism of the holder concealed from the eye of the spectator,but the mind is given the impression that the dagger is made in onepiece and its shank or blade impales or passes clear through the pack ofcards. The bottom of the holder being made in two parts and arranged toslide telescopically, the insertion of the pack of cards or otherarticles 1s thus facilitated, while the spring 7 operates to draw thesides toward each other after insertion of the article andcause them toclasp or embrace the same in a manner to prevent any accidentaldetachment or derangement.

So far as one part of my invention is con cerned the false or imitationcards may be dispensed with, as may also the dagger or analogous device.

So far as the construction of the holder proper is concerned numerouschanges in detail may be made Without departing from the spirit of myinvention. The bottom may be made in one piece, if desired.

If the holder be used to receive some article or articles other thanplayingcards, the imitation 'cards 13 and 14 may be dispensed with andplain or fancy covers for the uprights 2 and 3 used in lieu thereof, inconnection with the divided implement 1O 11.

While I have shown a two-part daggen'l do not wish to be considered aslimited thereto, for any other divided device or instrument may be usedas well, the gist of this part of my invention consisting in having onepart of. a device projecting from one side of the holder or its coverand the other part of said device projecting from the other side of theholder or its cover for the purpose of conveying to the mind of theobserver the idea i that the device or instrument passes through thearticle or articles and affords a support or holding means therefor.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A holder or clasp consisting of a bottom portion made in two detachedadjustable parts, and an upright or side arm attached to each of suchparts.

2. A holder or clasp consisting of a bottom portion made in two detachedparts constructed to slide together telescopically, and an upright orside arm attached to each of such parts.

3. A holder or clasp consisting of a botto1 portion made in two detachedadjustable parts, each provided with an upright or side arm, and aspring which maintains the several parts in operative relation, as wellas causes the arms or uprights to clasp or embrace the article inserted.

4. A holder or clasp having one part of a device (as a dagger, forinstance) projecting from one side thereof and the other part of saiddevice projecting from the other side thereof, and constructed toreceive and retain an article or articles between said projectingdevices.

5. A holder or clasp provided with imitation covers and havingprojecting from one of said covers one part of a divided device and fromthe other of said covers the other part of said divided device.

6. A holder or clasp consisting of a bottom and uprights or side arms,in combination with a divided instrument of which one part is attachedto one upright and the other part to the other upright.

7. A holder or clasp consisting of a bottom and uprights or side arms,in combination with a cover arranged exteriorly of each upright, andmeans, substantially as described, for holding said covers against saiduprights.

8. A holder or clasp consisting of a bottom and uprights or side arms,in combination with a divided instrument attached one part to oneupright and the other part to the other upright, and a cover interposedbetween each upright and each part of the divided instrument.

9. A holder or clasp consisting of a bottom anduprights or side armsprovided With screwstuds, in combination with perforated covers andlaterally-projecting devices provided with threaded sockets for engagingsaid studs and securing said covers on the outside of said uprights.

10. A holder or clasp for playing-cards, provided exteriorly withimitation playing-cards, and having projecting from one of the latterone part of a divided instrument and from the other the remaining partof said instrument.

11. A holder or clasp consisting of a twopart bottom, a springconnecting said parts,

and uprights or side arms, in combination -with covers arrangedexteriorly of the uprights and a divided dagger or other instrumentprojecting from said covers, substantially as and for the purposes setforth.

Signed at New York city, in the county of New York and State of NewYork, this 31st day of October, A. D. 1889.

STANLEY A. COHEN.

Vitnesses:

JAcoB HARTMANN, ALBERT S. COHEN.

